Bottom line? Canada’s potential growth rate remains in decline

But Bill Morneau's speech was too much a boastful bromide better suited for a partisan political rally than a sober and frank accounting of the core economic challenges facing the country and the risks they pose to future well-being.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau, pictured on the Hill. Despite all the optimism in the fiscal outlook on how well Canada is supposed to be doing, there are good reasons to have serious concerns about the future, writes David Crane. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

TORONTO—You almost had the feeling when he read his fall economic statement speech to the House of Commons last Wednesday that Finance Minister Bill Morneau was on the verge of declaring, “Canadians, you’ve never had it so good.” He was smart enough not to say it, even if it was a subliminal message.

Charting the CBC’s challenging present and uncertain futureCharting the CBC's challenging present and uncertain future: Where it has been and where it is going provides an insider profile of the struggles faced by Canada’s public broadcaster in the 21st century.

Unless Trudeau plans to be out on these streets, fighting against police brutality or in cabinet drafting legislation to curb police powers, his, and all the other white voices of his ilk, have no merit here.

'I do agree that things need to be implemented as quickly as possible. We could've done this a lot sooner. The good news is that we’re doing it now and announcing it today,' says Transport Minister Marc Garneau.